Valve operating device



Patented Mar. 10, 1936 2,033,666 VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Roy H. Zinkil, Oak Park,-Ill., assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 20, 1934, Serial No. 736,234

7 Claims.

VThis invention relates more particularly to improvements in a closet bowl seat device having for its principal object a new and improved means for actuating a iiush valve in connection with the flushing of the bowl.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision for a. iiush valve operating mechanism in which no inherently flexible parts are employed, thus eliminating the objections usually traceable to the latter, such as the necessity for providing proper clearances in the allowance for Wear, stretch, slippage and the like.

Another important object is tov provide a construction which omits the use of closely fitting links or bearings in connection with the operating levers, and thus reducing the number of operating parts subject to wear to a minimum.

Another important object is to provide a construction in which a substantially frictionless bearing or contact is made with the lever actuating means.

Another important object is to provide for a positive contact, as distinguished from a rigid connection between the member to be actuated and the hinged fork and by means of which valve actuation is obtained.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the specication, in which Fig. 1 is a, plan View of one form of my device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional View showing the `method. of providing the actuating contact between the closet seat and the flush Valve.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the figures.

, Referring now to the drawing, I have illustrated a device consisting in combination of a closet bowl I, with a seat 2 having a hinged connection therewith, the latter consisting of a bracket 3 having journalled projections 4 with a shaft 5 extending across and between the said projections. The seat is thus hingedly pivoted about the said shaft as an axis. Any convenient means for limiting the upward movement of the seat is provided which in this case consists of the stop Ii, which in its maximum upward movement abuts against the surface 1. I'he ends of the shaft 5 are journalled Within the end pieces I0, the latter being attached to the bowl by means of the `threaded studs and nuts Illa. and Illbi, respectively.

Extending preferably integrally as a part of the vbracket 4 is a centerpiece 8, which is bored out as 'at 9 to serve as a bearing for the extension fork shaft or lever I I, the latter fitting closely within the bearing 9 and is held against axial movement by means of the set screw I2, preferably threaded to hold the shaft securely within the said bearing. As shown in Fig. 1, between the part 8 and the projections of the bracket 4 the spacing pieces or sleeves I3 are provided. The fork lever II is extended to the flush valve I4 with the flush valve, as indicated, being conveniently attached to the bowl so as to flush it.

The flush valve is of the type known as the nonhold open and which operates to iiush the bowl by tilting the actuating stem I5 of the valve to one side. When the actuating stem is thus moved, the valve and stem are lifted by the water since the actuating stem consists of two parts or members, a member I5 as previously mentioned and a sliding member IB--the more detailed information of the valve being had by referring to .U. S. Patent No. 1,114,398 dated October 20, 1914.

When the parts are connected in position as shown in Fig. 2, the closet seat is held in a partially lifted position by means of the spring II, and when the seat is depressed, the forked head I8 engages the underside of the button I9 of the horizontally extending member 2| thus pulling it forward against the action of the spring I'I so as to permit the flush valve stem I5 in effect to project past the end 22 of the horizontal actuating member 2|. When the seat 2 is released, the horizontal actuating member 2| because of the spring I1 is drawn back to its normal position as indicated in the drawing. However, since the flush valve stem I5 had dropped down past the end 22 of the horizontal member 2| it is apparent that when the member 2| returns to its normal position, it will strike the side of the stem I5, tilting the latter sideways so as to tip the valve disc `(not shown) of the flush Valve I4 which actuates the flush valve, and thus causing the valve stem I5 and the sleeve I6 to be lifted. 'I'his operation causes the bowl to be flushed. With the rising of the parts I5 and I6, the horizontal actuating vlever 2| moves further inwardly so as to again locate itself under the end of the stem I5. Thus, when the main valve (not shown) seats again as described in the aforementioned patent, the stem I5 comes to rest upon the extension 22 of the horizontal actuating lever 2|. It is, therefore, apparent that the bowl is actually flushed, not when the closet seat is depressed, but when it is returned to its normally tilted position, as shown in Fig. 2. It is further evident that the spring I1 which controls the flush valve horizontal actuating lever 2| also lifts the seat to its normal or lifted position above the rim 23 of the bowl I.

In order to properly adjust the amount of movement by the seat 2 necessary in actuating the reciprocating member 2|, a set screw 20 is threadedly connected to the supporting member 8 into which the fork member is held and is locked in its position by a locknut a. That is, set screw 20 governs the angle of inclination of the seat 2 and in so doing, directly controls the amount of travel of the seat from its partly raised position to the fully depressed position, which in turn governs the horizontal movement of the reciprocating member 2|.

It is also apparent that the forked contact with the button head |9 provides for the exertion of a force on the underside of the button head in one direction only and thus permits the spring likewise to control in a positive bearing in one direction only. Therefore, wear occurring between the underside of the button head and of the bearing surface of the fork is reduced to a minimum. Similarly the operating effort required is reduced accordingly. The button head |9, may be made integral with the operating member 2| or it may be threadedly attached thereto. Likewise, the operating lever 2| may be made in two or more sections so as to permit of convenient extensions in order to suit the various installations. This is also applicable to the forked extension permitting it-to be lengthened or shortened to suit the various heights at which the flush valve may be installed above the bowl.

From the foregoing it is apparent that numerous modications may be made incorporating the spirit of my invention and I, therefore, desire to be limited only to the extent of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A closet flushing device comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a flush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member within said valve, a stem actuating said closure member, the said stem comprising an end portion telescoping within a part intermediate thereof, a reciprocating member transversely positioned with relation to said stem for actuating the latter, a substantially vertical member superposed above said closet having at one end bifurcated means for engagement with said reciprocating member, a pivotal support for the said seat provided with independent means for the adjustment of the said vertical member and of the said reciprocating member.

2. A closet flushing device comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a pivotal support therefor, a flush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member, a telescopically movable compound stem for actuating said closure member, a reciprocating member for actuating said flush valve, a resilient member mounted upon said reciprocating member, a housing for said resilient member, adjustable means upon said pivotal support for controlling the horizontal movement of said reciprocating member in one direction, a substantially vertical member mounted upon said pivotal support and having a bifurcated end for engagement with said reciprocating member, the said seat being normally inclined slightly with respect to said closet, whereby upon the despression of the said seat the said reciprocating member is moved against said resilient member suiciently to allow said -stem to move transversely across the inner end of said reciprocating member, valve actuation occurring upon release of the said seat.

3. A closet llushing device, comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a ush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member within said valve, a stem actuating said closure member, a reciprocating member transversely positioned with relation to the said stem for actuating the latter, the said stem normally resting upon said reciprocating member and having a movable extension projecting beyond the end thereof upon transverse movement of the said reciprocating member, a substantially vertical member pivotally positioned upon said closet and having at one end bifurcated means for engagement with said reciprocating member, a pivotal support for the said seat provided with independent means for adjustment of the said vertical member and of the reciprocating member.

4. A closet iiushing device, comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a flush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member Within said valve, a stem actuating said closure member, a reciprocating member transversely positioned with relation to the said stem for actuating the latter, the said stem having an axially movable extension enabling the latter to extend beyond the end of the said reciprocating member upon transverse movement of the said latter member, a substantially vertical axially adjustable member pivotally positioned upon said closet and having at one end bifurcated means for engagement with said reciprocating member, a pivotal support for the said seat provided with independent means for adjustment of the said vertical member and of the reciprocating member.

5. A closet flushing device, comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a flush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member within said valve, a stem actuating said closure member, an axially adjustable reciprocating member transversely positioned with relation to the said stem for actuating the latter, the said stem normally supported by said reciprocating member and having a relatively movable extension enabling the latter to extend beyond the end thereof upon transverse movement of the said reciprocating member, a substantially vertical member pivotally positioned upon said closet and having at one end bifurcated means for engagement with the said reciprocating member, a pivotal support for the said seat provided with independent means for Vadjustment of the said vertical member and of the reciprocating member.

6. A closet flushing device, comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a flush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member Within said valve, a stem actuating said `closure member, a reciprocating member transversely positioned with relation to the said stem for actuating the latter, the said stem `having a movable extension enabling the latter to extend transversely beyond the end of the said reciprocating member upon movement of the latter,.a substantially vertical member pivotally positioned upon said closet and having at one end bifurcated means for a line bearing engagement with the said reciprocating member, a pivotal support for the said seat provided with independent means for adjustment of the said vertical member and of the reciprocating member.

'7. A closet ushing device, comprising in combination a closet, a closet seat, a flush valve installed for actuation by said seat, a closure member within said valve, a stem actuating said closure member, a reciprocating member transversely positioned with relation to the said stem for actuating the later, the said stem having extendible means enabling the latter to project transversely beyond the end of the said reciproeating member upon movement of the latter, a substantially vertical member pivotally positioned upon said closet and having at one end means operatively engaging the said reciprocating member, a pivotal support for the said seat provided with independent means for adjustment of the said Vertical member and the said reciprocating member.

ROY H. ZINKIL. 

